The House of Representatives on Sunday elected Bhumjaithai MP Sophon Zaram as speaker, securing 289 votes and defeating People’s Party list MP Parit Wacharasindhu, who received 123 votes.
There were 80 abstentions and five spoiled ballots.
The House currently has 498 MPs, with 497 attending Sunday’s meeting.
The sitting was presided over by Pheu Thai party-list MP Pairote Lohsunthorn, the most senior member of the chamber, who served as temporary speaker to oversee the secret ballot.
Each candidate was given 10 minutes to present their vision.
Speaking first, Mr Sophon, 66, pledged to modernise Thailand’s legislative framework and maintain order in parliamentary debate. He said outdated and unenforceable laws should be reviewed and removed promptly.
He added that any new legislation must be timely and aligned with both national and global developments, and pledged to act impartially “for the nation, religion, the monarchy and the people”.
Mr Parit said he did not expect to win given the government’s parliamentary majority, but urged the next speaker to restore public confidence in parliament and apply the same standards to all bills, regardless of which party proposed them.
Following the speakership vote, Mr Pairote proceeded to the selection of deputy speakers.
Bhumjaithai nominated Mallika Jirapunvanit, a Lop Buri MP and deputy transport minister, for first deputy speaker, while coalition partner Pheu Thai nominated Lertsak Pattanachaikul, an MP for Loei, for the second deputy speakership.
With no competing candidates, both nominees briefly outlined their visions before being formally approved by the chamber.
